Cliff-Ryan, Kersten Win At Somerville

The Colavita/Baci presented by Cooking Light continued to dominate the crit scene, this time it was Theresa Cliff-Ryan taking the win in the 20-mile Mildred Kugler Woman’s Open, part of the Tour of Somerville on Monday. It was the second time that Cliff-Ryan has won in Somerville NJ, her first came in 2007. Cliff-Ryan joined an exclusive community as one of only eight multiple-year winners of the 35-year run of the women’s event.

No attacks stuck in the heat and humidity on the flat, four-corner course. With two laps to go, the Colavita/baci train set up at the front of the pack ramping up the pace to deliver Cliff-Ryan to the line ahead of Kirsty Broun (Verducci Breakaway Racing) and Brooke Miller (TIBCO/To The Top).

“I’m super happy to win and honored to have my name listed as a two-time winner along with our DS Tina Pic and other greats of this sport. Although only my name appears as the winner, it was definitely the entire Colavita/Baci team that delivered me to the line. They did all the hard work and I only had to finish it off.” said Cliff-Ryan. Before retiring at the end of last season, Pic has racked four wins at Somerville.

The Kugler-Anderson Memorial Tour of Somerville men’s race also came down to a bunch sprint with Ben Kersten (Fly V Australia) taking the win ahead of his teammate Alessandro Bazzana and Clayton Barrows (AXA Equitable Cycling Team).

Attacks flew throughout the 50-mile race but once again nothing stuck for long in a course really not conducive to breaks. With 10 laps to go, a dangerous move with Luis Amaran and Alejandro Borrajo, Jamis/Sutter Home teammates managed to escape and get 30 seconds on the field. But the pair was reeled back in five laps later as the lead-out train started to form to control the front of the field. Jamis/Sutter Home manned the front trying to set up their sprinter Ivan Dominguez. Waiting to jump, Kersten with only two teammates stayed at the front behind the train.

America’s oldest, continuously run bicycle race, the Lantus Tour of Somerville was the conclusion of four days of racing for professionals and amateurs over Memorial Day weekend.

On Saturday, David Tanner (Fly V Australia) outsprinted his breakmates to win the Hills of Somerset County 77-mile bicycle race in a time of 2:59. The 25-year-old Australian was part of a 8-rider breakaway that had a gap of nearly 3 minutes. Patrick Bevin (BISSELL) was second and Andres Pereyra (Jamis Sutter Home p/b Colavita) finished third. The humidity combined with numerous hills, crashes and a 26-mile-per hour pace took its toll on the field. Only 75 of the 136 starters finished. (See complete results).